Game table



Oct. 3, 1939. J. G. BLASCHKE GAME TABLE Filed March 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l GAME TABLE Filed March 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TORNEY B7 2A %M4 5 INV Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 30, 1937, Serial-N0. 133,861

3 Claims.

,My invention relates to improvements in tables generally, but has especial reference to a table to be used for playing cards and other games.

Briefly and generally stated, my primary object is to provide in a game table a novel arrangement of marginal holders for game instrumentalities and accessories such as glasses, cigarettes etc, so that while a game is in progress the playing surface will be free of such game instrumentalities and accessories as are not actually in play, but which holders will dispose the latter conveniently at hand to each of the players.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a game table or the like which may be of the folding leg type, and wherein at least certain of the legs provide glass-receiving storage compartments having closures providing, when open, a glass-supporting shelf.

Additionally the invention comprehends a marginally compartmented table which may be of the folding type, and which has the inner surfaces of certain outwardly opening compartment closures provided with rollers or casters to facilitate moving of the table on its edge from place to place.

A further object of the invention is to provide one or more built-in cigarette storage and dispensing units having its top closure providing an ash tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a game table a glass tumbler support and a cigarette dispenser or rest disposed in a plane above said support and providing a portion movable to spacedly overlie the tumbler support whereby to guard against a tumbler being knocked off the support.

The invention also resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts, to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what now appears to be a preferred form of the invention, but it is to be understood that same is susceptible of considerable change and modification within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding leg card table embodying my invention and set up for use;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the table legs folded;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4 illustrating one of the built-in cigarette-dispensing magazines and ash tray closure therefor;

Figure 4 is a top plan View with the table top and ash trays removed.

Referring specifically to the drawings, numeral 6 designates a folding leg game table which in the present instance provides a top which takes the form of a square having top, bottom and side walls. The space between the walls of the table top provides a storage area for game instrumentalities as will be presently explained.

The folding legs 1 are hinged as at 8 to the bottom wall of the table top as best shown in Figure 2 and are adapted to be held in their operative and inoperative positions by means of the usual central break type braces 9 whose opposite ends are pivoted to the bottom table top wall and leg as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the illustrated form of the invention three of the side walls of the table top have rectangular openings 6 which receive the half moon-like game device holders M which are formed with the transverse marginal compartments I 0 for chips II. 25

The upper surface of each of the chip holders H] has the game device-receiving grooves [0 which may be used to receive dice l2 such as are used in playing parcheesi and other games. Grooves IO will be deep enough so that when the dice I 2 are therein and the holder I0 is swung in-(see Figure 4)the dice will not strike the top wall of opening 6 Each holder I0 is pivoted as at l3 intermediate the ends of its straight edge to the top and bottom walls of its wall opening 6. Thus when holders l0 are not in use and are swung inwardly their straight edges will lie flush with the proximate side wall of the table top 6,

In lieu of game device holders ID at the fourth side of the table top I provide a drawer |4- (Figure 1)which is useful for holding other game devices, pencils, etc.

At each side of the drawer l4 there is a swingable closure l5 vertically hinged as at I! to one end of .an opening I 5 which communicates to the interior of the table top, thus enabling same to be used for storing miscellaneous game elements. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the closures l5 have rollers or casters l6 secured to their inner surfaces, as shown in Figure 1. Thus, when the table legs I are folded against the bottom wall of the table top(Figure 2)the closures l5 can be opened out and the table conveniently rolled from place to place on casters l6.

Incidental reference has heretofore been made to the cigarette dispensers, or magazines, four of which are shown and designated at [8. These are located, in the present instance, at each corner of the table top, the upper wall of which has the holes l'i providing seats therefor. An ash tray 2| of dish-like form provides a closure for the open top of each of the cigarette dispenser casings. It is a simple matter to fill the cigarette dispensers by simply removing the ash tray closures thereof.

Coming now to the interior of the cigarette dis.- pensers I8, Figure 3 illustrates same as provided with a hopper-like bottom which has an outlet opening w of a size approximating that of the diameter of a cigarette and extending the full width of the dispenser casing l8. In the present instance the hopper-like bottom of the dispenser casing is defined. by a block l9 which rests upon the bottom of the dispenser casing and has a downwardly and forwardly slanting surface 19 which effects gravity discharge of cigarettes i toward the discharge opening I84.

Slidably secured to the bottom of the cigarette dispensing casing 18 is the dispensing slide member 20 whose width approximates that of the dispensing casing. The top surface of the slide 'member 20 has a transverse cigarette-receiving groiove 20*, which will preferably align with opening l8 when the slide member 20 is inserted in side wall opening 20 so that its outer end lies flush with the end surface of the table top. It

"uwill .be readily apparent that a very simple and effective built-in cigarette dispensing apparatus is thus provided and that when a player retracts slide 20 by pulling knob 20 the slide will carry out a cigarette 22 in its groove 20 It is also to be observed that the groove 20 of slide 20 may be used as a cigarette rest if desired, although the ash tray 21 is, of course, primarily intended for such purpose. The top surface of the cigarette-dispensing slide 20 will preferably work substantially flush with the bottom surface of the dispensing casing l8 so as to avoid possibility of pinching the cigarette which is being dispensed.

Adjacent their upper ends the legs I of the table are provided with compartments 23 which are adapted to hold a glass or other article. Each compartment 23 has an outwardly opening closure 24 which is hinged at its lower edge as is indicated at 25. Each leg I has a short outwardly extending cleat 30 which provides a support for the associated closure 24 so as to dispose same in horizontal position as shown in Figure 1 to support a drinking vessel or the like 26. A friction latch 21 formed in part at the free end of the closure 24 and in part by the top wall of the compartment 23 serves to maintain the closure 24 in compartment closing position. It will be understoodthat the closure members i5, drawer I4 and game device holders will preferably be provided with similar yielding friction latches such as 21.

A pivoted finger piece 28 will be carried by the outer surface of the closures 24 so as to facilitate actuation of same to the position shown in Figure 1. Particular attention is directed to the fact that when the cigarette dispensing slide 20 is pulled out to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 it is disposed above the glass 26 on the shelfproviding closure so as to act as a guard to prevent the glass 26 from being knocked off such shelf as the result of careless movement of the arms of the adjacent player.

As indicated in Figure 4 and also in Figure 1 there will be provided intermediate the chip holders Ill a small outwardly sliding drawer 29 for holding score pads, pencils, and the like.

From the foregoing description taken in com nection with the accompanying drawings it will be evident that I have provided a very handy game table with ample facilities for the storage of gameimplements and accessories even to the extent of cigarettes and beverage glasses when the table is not in use. Furthermore while the table is of substantial ornamental and artistic construction, yet its legs are foldable and the closure carried casters l6 enable it to be conveniently moved from place to place without danger of the finishing being marred. The table is especially suitable for apartments and small houses because it can be readily folded and put out of the way when the floor space is wanted for other purposes; and on the other hand it can be used as a conventional living room table when not in use for game purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

l. A game table or the like having a top and supporting legs, a built-in smokable element-dispenser in said top adjacent at least certain of said legs, an outwardly movable slide incorporated in each dispenser, a beverage container support carried by said particularly mentioned legs, a beverage container-receiving recess in each of said particularly mentioned legs, and disposed beneath said slide when same is in its outwardly extended position whereby to protect a beverage container on said support, and said beverage container support providing in one position a closure for said recess and'said legs being foldable against the lower surface of said top.

2..A game table or the like having a top and supporting legs, a built-in smokable element-dispenser in said top adjacent. at least one of said legs, an outwardly movable ejector element incorporated in said dispenser, and a beverage container support carried by said particularly mentioned leg and disposed beneath said ejector element when same is in its outwardly extended position whereby to protect a beverage container on said support.

3. A game table or the like having a top and supporting legs, a built-in smokable element-dispenser in said top adjacent one of said legs, an outwardly movable ejector-element incorporated in each dispenser, a beverage container support carried by said particularly mentioned leg, a beverage container-receiving recess in said particularly mentioned leg and disposed beneath said ejector-element when same is in its outwardly extended position whereby to protect a beverage container on said support, and said beverage. container support providing in one position a closure for said recess.

JOHN G. BLASCHKE. 

